Kansas City Chiefs dark horse Esa Pole is suddenly gaining major traction after earning first-team offense repetitions in OTAs
Andy Reid revealed that Kansas City Chiefs second-year OT Esa Pole is rotating in with the starting offensive line during OTAs. Could he be true competition for Jaylon Moore at right tackle?
The Kansas City Chiefs officially have a competition brewing on the offensive line, and it’s only the first week of OTAs.
Jaylon Moore has been the presumed starter at right tackle heading into 2026 after the Chiefs moved on from starter Jawaan Taylor. Moore carries the fifth-highest salary cap hit next season behind Patrick Mahomes, Creed Humphrey, Trey Smith, and Nick Bolton. It’s still early, but it appears that the starting job isn’t written in ink quite yet. A dark horse candidate is emerging as true competition in what’s just his second year in the NFL and his sixth season playing football.
Chiefs HC Andy Reid confirmed on Thursday that second-year OT Esa Pole got some opportunities to work with the first-team offense this week at right tackle. Pole was a 2025 undrafted free agent signing by Kansas City out of Washington State. The 6-foot-7 and 319-pound tackle had an interesting path to the 53-man roster.
Chiefs’ Offensive Tackles On The 90-Man Offseason Roster
The Chiefs have seven players who can play the offensive tackle position on the 90-man offseason roster.
- Josh Simmons
- Esa Pole
- Jaylon Moore
- Wanya Morris
- Ethan Driskell
- Matt Waletzko
- Kahlil Benson
Chiefs second-year OT Esa Pole is getting repetitions with the first-team offense during OTAs
After a promising training camp and preseason, the Chiefs released Esa Pole during 53-man roster cuts. He was claimed by the New York Jets, who would release him later in the season. Pole would then rejoin the Chiefs’ practice squad after going unclaimed on waivers. Now, Pole is taking reps alongside Josh Simmons, Kingsley Suamataia, Creed Humphrey, and Trey Smith as a starter.
“Yeah, they’re rotating in with the first group there,” Reid said on Thursday. “Esa (Pole), you can tell he really worked this offseason, and he looks strong out there. He’s a smart kid when you really get to know him. He doesn’t have a ton of experience, but he’s a smart kid, and he gets it. So, he’s getting reps in there with the starters, and kind of rotating. Andy (Heck) does a nice job of rotating those guys at guard and tackle.”
Pole was promoted from the practice squad to the 53-man roster after the wrist injury to Josh Simmons. He took 275 snaps at left tackle for the Chiefs from Week 14 through Week 18. Pole surrendered just 15 total pressures, including one sack, and had three penalties. What’s most impressive about that fact is that Pole is still relatively new to football. He didn’t play high school football and played just two years at Washington State after spending two years in JUCO.
As Coach Reid said, Pole doesn’t have a ton of experience to draw on. It’s why those reps during the 2025 NFL season will prove valuable as he continues to grow and learn. Chiefs RG Trey Smith feels that Pole is already taking strides each and every day.
“Yeah, Esa (Pole) has been doing a phenomenal job, man,” Smith said on Thursday. “Growing his knowledge of the game, coming to work every day. Esa brings the energy, man. He’s a fun guy to be around, a fun young guy to be around. All of our tackles are doing a great job right now, and you know, just looking forward to playing.”